Johst syecher



PAT-ENT OFFICE,

JOHN SYROHER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

BlLLlARD-CUSHION.

Speeitication forming part of Letters Patent No. 40,50, 'dated November 10, 1863.

To a/ZZ whom it may concern' Be it known that I, JOHN SYRoHE-R, of the city of Buffalo and State of New York, have invented a newand Improved Billiard-Cushion; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the saine, reference being made to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a transverse section. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of cushionrail. Fig- 3 represents a horn, from which strips are cut spirally to be inserted into the rubber pad. Fig. 4 is a plan of the horn strip. Fig. 5 is a trailsverse section thereof. V

The nature of this invention relates to the application and use ot' thin strips of horn in connectionwith hard or soft rubber compound, to form an improved biliiard cushion.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each ofthe iigures.

A represents a section of a billiard-table. A is the bed. B is the cushion-rail of ordi ilary construction. C represents the india! rubber pad prepared and inst rted in the rail in acominon manner. Drepresents a strip of horn which is inserted into the rubber pad, as shown in Fig. l. A long slit is cut in the rubber of sufticient depth to take in the strip of horn, which isthen ina-de fastlherein by rubber cement. The horn is cut sp rally into strips so that strips of sutlicient length may be obtained to extend the t'ull length of the rubber pad or the entire length of the cushion be tween the pockets. When these strips are cut from the horn, they are steamed and pressed and then planed or worked ott' from the outside to the properthickness. The upper edge ofthe strip is beveled oft', so as to give an easy and increasing spring to the strip.

Horn as a material is much better' than whalebone, leather, or rawhide-it is tough and elastic, and retains its spring-power. By reason of cutting the horn spirallyv I am enabled to'get strips of equal length with the rubber pads between the pockets, with the grain runningI crosswise of the strips, so that when the billiard-ball strikes the cushion the spring action of the horn will be with the grain. When whalebone strips are used, the

grain runs lengthwise with the strip. Consequently, whatever spring there is when the ball strikes the cushion must be crosswise ot' the grain. rlhis has a tendency to split the wh alebone, and also gives an imperfect spring. Whalebone cannot be cut spirally so as to bring the grain crosswise of the strip, and consequently the proper spring action cannot be obtained from that material. leather nor rawhide possesses suflicient elasticity for the purpose, and metal strips, as commonly prepared and used, do not afford the requisite. spring, for the reason that the spring action is lengthwise of the strip, whereas thc spring should be crosswise in order to insure the proper action upon the ba'l.

By the application and use of horn, as aforesaid, l am enabled to overcome all of the objections to whichwhalebone, leather, rawhide, or single strips of metal and such like material are subject, and obtain a strip which has its principal spring action crosswise of the stri-p, and at the saine time lengthwise with the grain of the materiah These strips of horn may be used as a facing to the rubber pads, or they may be inserted into the pads, as shown in Fig 1. I prefer to insert them as shown in Fig. 1.

The strips of horn may be slitted and used to advantage when hard rubber is used for the pad.

When soft rubber is used for the pad, I prefer to use the horn-in the single strip, as described. Caoutchouc or india-rubber vulcanized and prepared in any wellknown lnanner, or any equivalent material may be used ftr the pads in connection with the horn strips.

The cushion is covered with cloth in a usual manner.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The application and use of astrip ot horn, in connection with an india-rubber pad, for

the purpose of making an improved billiardcushion, substantially as herein described.

J. SYRGHER; Witnesses Gno. W. WALLACE, E. B. FoRBUsH.

Neither 

